Chapter 61: Succession Ceremony

When Demetrius learned what he did when he passed out, he was embarrassed and distant from me. I felt sorry for him, but I remained as solemn with him as possible, pretending that what he did was not affecting me.

Henry had learned what had happened. He was chuckling while I threw the crumpled parchment in his direction. "That boy already had enough. Can you halt, you bastard lycan prince?" I couldn't help myself grimacing.

"Pardon me..." He wiped the tears that escaped from his eye. "I mean, I am not laughing at him. I am laughing at you."

I smiled, a fake one. "Oh, I did not know I was good at spouting jokes," I said. "Good then. Hope you die from laughing."

Henry chuckled one more time before he halted when we were interrupted by some knocks. "Your Royal Highnesses?"

I frowned and returned from reading the Royal Ordinance Volume Five. It was part of my training to become a Crown Princess. I must memorize all the laws of the Yuanzhong Kingdom.

My training was so painful that I had to be in every class to hone me as Henry's wife.

Henry told me that it was crucial since if it really happened that his plans didn't work, we would have to be married right away since he had some backup plans. I said no to him and would plan to call off our engagement even if it meant the humiliation of the House of Cantavalle.

But Papa wouldn't like that for certain.

"Come in."

Lanfrid came in and brought some refreshments and snacks. "You might want to take a break." He bowed before us. "And for Lady Dominixe, you are bound to meet Countess Moorson for your etiquette classes."

"I already know the etiquette here, so why would I have to take those lessons?"

"There is a different etiquette for a Crown Princess candidate that will soon-to-be a Luna Queen, Domi."

I huffed. "They are still the same to me." I crossed my arms over my chest. "As if I am going to marry you. You are not Valerian." I rolled my eyes.

Henry shrugged and didn't say anything. Henry wouldn't dare to disrespect him whenever I brought up his name, which was a wonderful thing to know.

I took some macaroons to eat and halted when I smelled oolong tea. My heart leaped out of my ribcage after that.

"W-Who made that?" I asked, feeling my chest tighten.

"The royal chef, my lady," Lanfrid said politely.

"Oh..." I was silent. The surrounding went silent as they observed me.

Henry sighed and settled his fountain pen. "Shall we take a walk? We might need some fresh air."

Looking at him and the work I was doing before my eyes settled on the oolong tea made me decide to nod quietly. Henry saw my reaction and turned at Lanfrid.

"I want some orchid tea when we return, Lanfrid. I am not fond of oolong tea for now."

"Yes, Your Royal Highness."

"Shall we, Domi?" He opened his palm to me.

Nodding, I accepted his hand as I glanced at the teapot where Lanfrid was preparing to throw it. "Valerian used to say that oolong tea is best for light snacks..." I couldn't help muttering when we left the study room.

"I am sorry... I should have known. I did not mean to ruin your mood." He was looking on the pathway with a melancholy expression. "I have failed to save my friend..."

"It's fine... I just missed my honeydew so bad..."

We were enveloped with a deafening silence as we walked to the Luna Queen's Garden. But before we could stay there, Lanfrid approached us.

"Your Royal Highness, you are being summoned by His Majesty."

Henry sighed. "Did he say any order he wants me to do?"

Lanfrid looked hesitant. "Um... He wants you to handle the problem that arose in the borders between the Waevalon Kingdom and the Yuanzhong Kingdom. It is about the tariff rates."

His face darkened. I could have sworn this man was already had enough with his father. "He increased the rates again... I told him not to do that..." Sighing, he turned to me. "I need to go, Domi. I must summon your personal maids to be with you."

I shook my head. "No need. I can handle being alone here. And I want to be alone." I glanced at Lanfrid before turning at him. 'In my previous life, you performed the coup d'etat to usurp the throne. Why wouldn't you do it?' I arched my eyebrow.

Henry, who looked like he wanted to murder someone, smiled and chuckled. "Soon." He bowed his head before me. "I am just making some preparations."

I scoffed, shaking my head. "So evil..." I muttered when they left.

I was left in the garden and dared to walk around. My nostrils had a quick whiff of the lilith flowers that were not far away from where I was.

Even though the Luna Queen's Garden was like a labyrinth, I went there. Having some werewolf senses was enough for me not to get lost.

Thinking I would be alone there, I failed to see that Niccolo was also there, staring at the lilith flowers with so much longing.

His head turned at me when he saw me arriving. His eyes widened as he lowered his gaze and bowed before me.

"Greetings, Your—"

"I do not need your greetings." I dismissed him rudely and walked around. "So, why are you here?" I asked when I touched the lilith flowers, feeling like I wanted to cry again.

"I am waiting for Demetrius. He still has his lessons," he answered.

"Ah..." I shouldn't have asked.

I remained silent and adored the flowers. It was a good thing that they had these in the garden. I would have loved to stay here until my eyes were jaded from staring at them.

The plants, flowers, and trees danced as the soft wind blew up the surrounding. The soft chirp of the birds was like a melody that enhanced the serenity of everything around here.

I felt Niccolo's stare which made me uneasy for some reason, before I dared to meet his gaze. "Is there something that you need?" I asked spitefully.

I thought he would look away since I caught him staring at me, but he continued meeting my gaze. But he didn't say anything, which made my heart go wild.

"It's rude if you are staring at someone."

"You are also staring at me."

I arched my eyebrow, exhaling sharply. "Fine. Suit yourself." I did not want to stay in the same place as him. My blood was just boiling.

He watched me leave while I continued striding away from the garden. It was best not to be with him.

It didn't take long for a season to pass as the day for the succession ceremony had arrived for Demetrius to become the official head of the House of Leveaux and Alpha of the Nocturnal Crest pack.

As the Crown Princess candidate, I had to stay beside Henry. I received some glares from the high aristocrats since they couldn't believe that a lady from a neutral noble house could engage with them.

"Today, we are witnessing Demetrius Leveaux officially announce that he is now the patriarch of the House of Leveaux and the Alpha of the Nocturnal Crest pack," Cameron, His Majesty's assistant, announced while he was reading the royal decree that was signed by Henry, not his father. "And for Niccolo Andreu as the Beta, second-in-command, of the Nocturnal Crest pack."

'Why didn't he have a noble status?' asked Henry, enduring that I was also sitting in the throne room beside him while I was looking at Niccolo, who was being blessed by Alpha King Helio together with Demetrius.

'He doesn't want it. I offered him a marquis status, but he politely declined.' He sighed, looking exhausted.

'I see...'

Niccolo raised his head and met my gaze after that. My heart flipped over my ribcage, making me uneasy that I caught him looking at me again.

He was like that. He also had the opportunity to meet my gaze as if he wanted to say something.

I averted my gaze. This time, I looked for Papa. I looked at him through the crowds, but he was not around.

I only saw my siblings in the crowds. That bewildered me. They were here, but Papa was not?

Even his wives were not present...

What was happening?

"Behold, Duke Leveaux of the North and his Beta, Lord Andreu!"

I snapped back when I saw something sparkling in the gallery and saw a man dressed in all black holding a crossbow as he unleashed the arrow, aiming at Demetrius.

"No!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as everyone gasped and looked at me when I rushed toward Demetrius.

I did not know what had happened, but I instinctively used my wolf speed to protect Demetrius and shielded him with my body as I raised my hand to attempt to catch it.

However, when I did that, it was the moment that everything around me stopped moving, draining my blood from my body...